We came, we met, we gardened
If you have ideas about the committee you are on we'd love to hear them. As our green hours are crucial to the operation of the garden, we need to determine how things will be done so the garden runs smoothly.
Topics for discussion at the meeting will include;
1. Communication
2. How we will breakdown the new responsibilities,
3. Who will be the liaison for the Community Garden Network (CGN),
4. Identification of a garden member who is willing to act as Garden Coordinator.
5. Frequencies of general meetings.
If there are topics you wish to have on the agenda, please don’t hesitate to
e-mail us at: 
Looking forward to hear from you.
Hello BUGS gardeners;
You are reading the very first issue of The BUGS Newsletter! If you like it, we will have more. There will be an envelope in the shed in which you can put comments and contributions for the next newsletter.
Do you have a catchy name for our newsletter? Put your ideas in the envelope. There will be a prize for the person whose idea is chosen.
Open garden day;
- In August is a day to come out to and celebrate the BUGS garden!! There are crumptious food, music, face-painting, and much more. This is an opportunity to show off our gardens, to thank our community partners and to meet with new folks stopping in for a look. Bring your friends and family, musical instruments and anything else to make the day ours - see you there!!
Take the garden home with you;
Fundraising plans for Open Garden Day are in full swing. Susan Wellisch has produced packages of cards for the garden for Open Garden Day. They are sold @ $6.00 for a package of five or $1.50 per single card. We also do sales of donated items. If you have something you would like to contribute, bring it to the garden or let us know at bugarden@hotmail.com and we'll make arangements with you for pick-up and display it. Donated items including videos, books, plants and household items are welcome. Any item you think would sell is fine. It doesn't have to be garden related.
Garden clean up;
It is a meeting of all BUGS gardeners to clean up and prepare the garden for Open Garden Day. Before open garden day every individual is responsible for his/her own plot to tide up. Please help make the garden look its best.
Green Hours Reminder;
Instead of paying rental fees for the use of the plots, all gardeners must put in “Green Hours” (15 hours) of time helping with general garden chores and are mandatory. These hours are earned by;
~ fill the water barrels when empty (call water committee person for instructions),
~ keep the shed tidy, and make sure tools are cleaned and properly stored,
~ help aerate and/or water compost piles and contribute kitchen scraps,
~ meet with working group members to establish and share duties,
~ trim weeds in the area around plots to keep the pathways clear and the garden neat,
~ attend monthly meetings to help with decision making and problem solving,
~ contribut to Opening / Open / Closing Garden Days activities
Congratulations to all gardeners
We have received many compliments on the beauty of our garden. Way to Go BUGS!
Thanks
- to all Food Bank Workers. The plot was doing very well and a lot harvests have been donated to the soup kitchen. They say a big thanks to all of you!
- to Brenda Inouye and Moe Garahan. Their fine work in fund raising this year resulted in our obtaining compost watering cans, a new hose reel system, shears and picnic table, workshops, a garden guide and the compost signs that you can see during a growing season.
- to Lucette for supplying us with lovely perennials from her home for the front gate bed
- to Patrick for a fabulous job of digging up stumps
- to Millo for clearing away the brush against the east fence
- to Bernie and Mark for clearing away sun blocking shrubs from around the food bank plot and plot number 10
- to Diane for fresh towels recently added to the shed
- to Tom for writing instructions on how to use the new watering system
- to Glennis, a new BUGS gardener, who is managing the herb plot. It looks great and we now have excellent signage there. Glennis is a botanist who has helped in identifying some of the mystery plants in the herb plot.
- Richard Eveleigh for taking care of compost
Special Thanks
Margo is no longer in the garden. We offer our special thanks to her for her significant contribution to the organization of the garden. Margo’s support, generosity and friendly smile will be greatly missed.
Volunteers needed - a good way to get in your green hours
- Secretary - to record and distribute minutes of monthly meetings and maintain files - Submit your information at: Sign-Up Here link.
- Garden Coordinator - must have necessary skills and be approved by the steering committee - for more info: Sign-Up Here link.
- Community Garden Network Representative - to attend meetings every 3rd Monday of each month and report to the BUGS Steering Committee - go to: Sign-Up Here link.
- Call Around Person - to do occasional telephone tree call around - go to: Sign-Up Here link.
- Water Duty Scheduling - to oversee development of monthly scheduling of water duty - go to: Sign-Up Here link.
- Grounds Person - to oversee maintenance shed and its contents to ensure that everything is kept in orderly condition - go to: Sign-Up Here link.
- Compost Pickup - to pick up a fairly large grocery bag of compost for the YW/YMCA cafeteria on Tuesdays and Friday afternoons - call Sylvia at (613) 230-4003
- Volunteers for Food Bank Plot - needed to deliver veggies to the Kitchen - Centre 507, located in the McLeod Stewarton United Church on 507 Bank Street near Argyle. For further information call (613) 233-5626 and ask for Claire.
Workfare and BUGS
Any garden member participating in Workfare may claim time spent working in the garden as Community Service Hours. BUGS and the CGN do not do any monitoring of hours for Workfare participants. Please speak to your worker if further information is needed. The CGN requires that this notice be posted.
Have you moved?
If your phone number or address has changed or you are planning to leave the garden, please call Judy at (613) 233-1040 so she can make the necessary changes on the mailing list.
Communications
There are a variety of ways to find out what is going on at BUGS. News updates are posted on the announcement board (outside the shed) and on the bulletin board inside the shed. general information is also posted on the bulletin board inside the shed. Personal messages are posted on the board on the back wall of the shed.
Herb Plot
The herbs in the herb plot are for all BUGS gardeners to share. If you know how to harvest the herbs, please help yourself but remember that 35 people share this plot. If you need information on harvesting and storing herbs, call one of the members listed in the shed as a herb plot helper. Please do not pick the whole plant but take only clippings.
Water Duty Signage
If you have not signed up for Water Duty, please remember to do so. This is particularly important during hot dry weather when barrels may dry up in days.
Call a member of the water committee to find out how to use the watering system. The tap inside the YW/YMCA is sticking so keep at it and it will open. Turn lots to get a strong water flow.
Compost
Pick up help is needed for compost at the YMCA (see volunteers needed). Everyone is needed to bring in kitchen scraps. Compost signs will be ready soon.
BUGS on CBC
Sarah McFadyen, a producer at CBC Radio One was in the garden doing interviews. Bernadette Hosking and Judy Janes were featured in the piece. It aired on Monday August 11. 2K on Ontario Today. This programme is broadcast to all of Ontario so the word is getting out! If you missed it, have no fear. We have a sound compy right here for you on the net.
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